Somne

Metropolis

The
Italian producer, real name Federico Maccherone, presents his first release of
2017 - a solo EP marrying the same ethereal, wide-angle synthesis and intricate
drum programming that appears on standout work for Boddika’s Nonplus imprint
and the Afterlife label. As ever, Maccherone shows his range - rolling,
meditative recordings sit comfortably alongside more overtly dance floor
material, with both approaches bound by the same high-end production values
listeners and DJ’s alike have come to expect from the Somne project.

In
many ways, the EP offers a degree of insight into Maccherone’s dual-identity as
a producer of both clinical, dance-floor fare and more cerebral, leftfield work
- and in turn, how the artist draws together these two strands of creative
endeavour to craft unique and profoundly emotive electronic music. Nods to
classic IDM and Ambient sit at the periphery of the recordings, though for the
most part the focus is on propulsive, contemporary Techno derivatives - from
warping, half-time opener Divided Love, with its crisp, white noise washes and
clinical use of distortion - through to Endgame’s exacting, peak-time drive.
And whilst the form shifts across the EP from half-time, polyrhythmic work to
more direct 4x4 compositions- all
remain bound by the same exquisite, otherworldly atmosphere that touches on the
grandiose whilst maintaining a gloriously introspective bent.

Balance
comes across as a principle theme on the record, both in terms of production
aesthetic and track sequencing, but there’s a wonderful contrast between
elements - with sounds ringing strong and true throughout. The two versions of
lead Metropolis that appear perhaps best illustrate the powerful dichotomy
within Maccherone’s work, with the A side version conjuring up a distinctly
brooding sentiment - a quintessential example of rolling, contemporary
Electronica, whilst the B side’s Alternate Mix offers a more direct, cathartic
interpretation - expertly executed for maximum dance floor effectiveness.

Mature
and accomplished, Metropolis is a fine addition to the growing Somne
discography. The record paints a picture of a producer in full control of his
art, deftly working to create a powerful three dimensional space of his own
within the genre.